Be transparent in board selection
Normally, candidates are required to run a campaign — even if it is fairly quiet — for a local Board of Education position. With the resignation of David Damico, due to his election to Dunkirk Common Council, we agree with the the New York Coalition for Open Government regarding filling the post.
In a letter sent to Michael Mansfield, the district’s superintendent, the organization expressed concerns about the decision to interview potential candidates in private. “Opinions by the New York State Committee on Open Government and court decisions have held that applicants for an elected position should be reviewed in public and not in executive session,” the open government group, based in Williamsville, states in its letter.
We hope the school board takes note. Selecting a candidate for public office is far from a closed-door decision, especially when it deals with a budget of nearly $50 million in taxpayer funds.